THE MARGIN SHELLS - FAMILY MARGINELLIDAE. Shell pear-shaped, porcelanous, smooth or with ribs, polished; spire short or immersed; body whorl large; aperture nearly the whole length of the shell; outer lip with a narrow, thickened margin, toothed or smooth within; columella distinctly plaited; operculum usually wanting; foot large, square in front, tapering behind; mantle reflected over shell; tentacles close, bearing eyes; radula like that of the volutes.
A family of small shells related to the Cowries, Olives, Mitres and Volutes. The principal genus has over two hundred species.
Genus MARGINELLA, Lam.
Characters of the family. Tropical or sub-tropical species in both hemispheres.
The Bubble Margin Shell (M. bullata, Born.), a giant among pygmies, is pale, smooth, ovate oblong, the rounded rim of the outer lip shaded to orange. The spire is immersed, leaving a shallow pit; the columella has four clean-cut folds. Length, 21 to 31 inches.
Habitat.— Bahia, Brazil.
The Spotted Marginella (M . guttata, Dillw.), is flesh-coloured, obscurely banded with brown, and flecked all over with opaque white spots. The rim is thick and bears a few spots of reddish brown. This small, broad shouldered species occurs abundantly.
Length, to I inch.
Habitat.—West Indies to Beaufort, N. C.
The Ruddy Rim Shell (M. carnea, Storer) is orange red outside, and white on lip and columella, with a median white band. Length f inch.
Habitat.— Tampa Bay to West Indies.
M. apicina, Menke., about /- inch long, white, or tinged with orange, blue, pink, or purple; faintly banded with a darker 89 The Margin Shells shade, occurs from Cape Hatteras to the West Indies. There are usually a few chestnut spots on the lip margin.
Variety borealis, Verr., inch long, occurs from Rhode Island to Cape Fear.
The Marginella (M. pyriformis, Cpr.) is a minute white shell, of an inch in length, sometimes tingedwith orange.
Habitat.—Monterey to San Diego, Cal.
Genus ERATO, Risso Shell obovate, polished; spire short, conical, distinct; aper ture narrow, long; outer lip toothed, thickened in the middle; columella plaited. Shell and animal look like a Cyprxa.
Habitat.— Santa Barbara, Cal.